Wheel cover



Jan. 14, 1.958

G. A.,LYON

WHEEL COVER Original Filed Aug. 15, 1952 I George A/Qr Lyrfz Y MWW/Mmn- United States Patent 18 Claims. (Cl.\30137) Matter enclosed in heavy brackets appearsiiifthe original patent but forms no part of reissue-'specification; matter printed iii italics indicates the additions made by reissue.

The present invention relates to irrprovements in wheel structure and more particularly concerns lthe ornamental and protective covering of the outer-side of vehicle wheels.

An important object of the present'invention is `to provide an improved wheel lstructure having a cover thereon which can be readily applied a-nd removed at will but which is self-'retaining on the wheel etectivelyin service.

Another object of the invention is to provide la wheel `structure having thereon an improved Ventilating type of wheel cover having means at the outer margin eiective to reinforce the cover and also useful in facilitating pryol ofv the cover when it is desired to vremove the saine from the wheel. I l A y Y vA further object of the invention :is to provide ainyel wheel cover 'for vehicle wheels, provided with substantially improved means for retaining the :cover on the wheel.

Still another object of the invention "is to y"provide a wheel cover having improved air vcirciilation lpromoting type retaining linger structlire `and 'tensioning means.

According to the generalfeatures 'of the 'present in n'- tion there is `provided in a wheel structure having a tillange tire lri'nl and al wheel body with V'air Ecirculation openings between the wheel body and the tirerim, a vcover for the outer side of the wheelincluding a body ine'mb'e'r having a continuous marginal llange structure and `an intermediate portion, said intermediate Vportion having ya series of air circulation openings therethrough with fretaining `finger flanges at said opening 'retainingly engaging with the tire Trini under tension.

According Lto other `features of the invention there is provided in a wheel :cover for disposition Yattle `ruiter side of the vehicle wheel, a Yclover body having 'a circular portien there'df prvided with a series of cliilatin openings, hsaid circulation openings having projecting inwardly therefrom retaining vil'anges provided "with edges refain'i'ngl'y eggeable nder tension with a wheel aan, and a marginal reinfr ng 'continuous rim on sai'd cover outwardly of sai'd openings for s't'iffe'ning 'the `margin if the cover and providing a `pry-6l slidlder structure at the cover margin. p

Other Objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be 'readily apparent '/fm he fllwing detailed description 'of a `piefe"red emboli ment thereof taken fin conjunction 'with the 'accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure l is "a side elevational View fof (a vehicle wheel and wheel cover faccor'ing to elle present invention;

Figuie 2 is fan enlarged fragmentary lradial sectional detail vie'w taken substantially on the 'line lll-lll of Figiire lgfand Figure 3 Ais a fragmentary enlarged sectional 'detail v'iew taken `substantially valong the 'line Hit-#HI of Figure l'.

As `show-ri onlthe drawing:

A wheel with which Vthe present invention is adapted "ice to `be usedrnayc'omprise'a wheel body 10 and a tire rim 11. The wheel body is preferably of the disk spider type including a central bolt-on flange 11, an intermediate axially'outwardlyextending annular reinforcing nose bulge 12 and a marginal axially directed outer llange 13 which is secured in suitable manner to a base llange 14 of the tire rim and providesat spaced intervals ventilation opei1- ings v15 between'the 'margin of the wheel body and the base `llange of the tirerim.

The tire rim `11 is preferably of the mli'lti-llange, dropcenter type which may be formed as a rolled section and has extending generally radially and axially outwardly from the base'llange an outer side flange 17 which merges with afgenerally axially outwardly and Vradially outwardly obliquely sloping Lintermediate "ilang'e 18 which in tum merges with a terminal flange 19. The tire rim is adapted tosiipport a pneumatic 'tire 'and the assembly 20.

For ornamentally and protectively covering the outer sideof the wheel,-a wheel cover 21 is provided. Although the cover is shown as comprising a lfull disk which covers not only the wheel body 10 but also the tire rim 11, it will be understood that the cover may comprise a ring which is open at the center so that a conventional hub cap can be applied. Substantial advantages, however, are attained by having the :cover formed from a single piece of sheetnietal comprising -a central bulged crown portion 22, an outer marginal portion 23 and an intermediate portion 24. The central crown portion 22 is preferably dirnensioned to kcover 'the 'bolt-on flange portion of the wheelbody 1'() and preferably Lthe nose bulge 12 of the Wheel body with the 'margin of vthe'central or crown portion of the'cover adapted to rest against the radially outer side of the nose bulge 12. The Aouter marginal portion 23 ofthe cover is'prefe'rably Yof 'a diameter to substantially conceal the terminal lla'nge 419 of the tire rim, while the intermediate portion 24 of the cover extends in overlying relationto the remainder of the tire rim and the adjacent portion 'of the wheel body 10 opposite the wheel openings 15`at junctreof 'the tire rim and the wheel body.

As best "seen inFigue v2, the intermediate portion 24 ofy the cover is preferably formed to extend obliquely generally radially and axially outwardly and joins die crown portion 22 on an :annular vreinforcing -rib 2S which projects generally axially inwardly and seats against the wheelbody. At spaced intervals, the intermediateportion 24 of thecover is 'preferably provided with a symmetrical series of air `circulation or ventilation openings 27 which since they are opposite the ventilation openings 15 of the wheel 'afford 'circulation of air through the cover and through kthe wheel'aiid thus ifacilitate cooling of the brake drum of a vehicle axle Astructure (not shown) to which the wheel may be applied in service.

Means for attaching the cover 21 to the wheel comprise a series of cover retaining lobe-like retaining finger flanges 28. In the present instance the llan'ges 28 are provided by material struck from the intermediate cover portion 24 in the foi-mation of the openings 27. To this end the retaining -llanges .'28 are provided at each side of each of the openings 27 in preferably symmetrical formation, with each of the flanges 'provided a radially and axially inclned cover retaining edge 29 which projects radially outwardly forcover `retaining'engagement with the inner side of the intermediate llange 18 of the tire rim. The retaining ilanges 23 are preferably angled toward one another from opposite sides of the respective associated openings 27, and each pair of the retaining ilanges 2S atieach opening is connected by a'narrow marginal connecting 'flange 30 extending inwardly [from the inner portions of the respective openings 27. Theradially outer portions of the retaining llanges 28 are of substantial width Varid the v`flanges Vtaper toward'a narrower dimension at the connecting flanges 30. Thereby the openings 27 are provided with a generally keyhole shape as best seen in Figure l. The retaining :flanges 28 are widest at their retaining edge portions.

The retaining edges 29 of the retaining anges 28 are disposed on a normal diameter which is slightly greater than the inner diameter of the intermediate ilange 18 of the tire rim in the corresponding or complementary portions of the intermediate flange and the retaining edges 29 considered from the outer ends of the edges 29 toward the inner ends thereof, so that when the cover is applied to the wheel by centering the same and pushing the cover axially inwardly so as to cam the retaining edges 29 inwardly along the intermediate flange 18, the flanges 28 are placed under retaining stress. The width of the flanges 28 assures substantial resilience. It will be observed that at the inner ends of the retaining edges 29 the lobes of the retaining flanges are rounded off as indicated at 31 so as to facilitate inward camming of the retaining edges in` application of the cover to the wheel.

In Figure 3 in full line is shown the relative disposition of the retaining flanges 28 when in cover retaining relation on the wheel with the retaining edges thereof engaging the intermediate flange of the tire rim. In dotted outline is shown the normal relationship of the retaining flanges 2S in their unstressed condition when the cover is off the wheel. It will thus be appreciated that the retaining flanges 28 are subjected to substantial retaining stress which causes the retaining edges 29 of the retaining flanges to wedge tightly in cover retaining relation against the tire rim intermediate flange 18. Furthermore, inasmuch as the retaining flanges 28 generally oppose one another in peripheral directions about the wheel, it will be appreciated that the cover is very effectively retained against turning on the wheel as a result of spinning or torque forces imparted to the cover in running of the wheel in service. The connecting iianges 30 afford substantial mutual resistance of the anges 30 to distortion or exure, and also provide a finishing margin about the edges deiining the openings 27.

By virtue of the openings 27 in the intermediate portion 24 of the cover, the solid areas of the intermediate portions intervening between the openings 27 provide spoke-like portions which connect the crown 22 with the marginal portion 23 of the cover. By preference the arrangement is such that the spoke-like intervening portions taper from wide base portions at the juncture 25 with the crown portion 22 toward substantially narrower outer end portions at juncture with the outer marginal portion 23 of the cover. The juncture of the flanges 28 and 30 with the intermediate cover portion at the respective openings 27 is preferably on angular respective reinforcing juncture ribs 32 at the respective openings, This constructiony rigidifies the spoke-like portions of the intermediate cover section against buckling under the resilient stress to which subjected by forcing of the air circulation promoting vanes or retaining flanges 28 resiliently into retaining engagement with the wheel.

The outer marginal portion 23 of the cover is constructed to afford a substantial rigidifying perimeter for the cover and for this purpose the portion 23 is preferably formed of rib-like arcuate cross-section with an underturned marginal reinforcing llange 33 at its extremity, an intermediate annular indented reinforcing rib 34 and an annular indented reinforcing rib 35 at juncture with the spoke ends of the intermediate cover portion 24. In the full assembly of the cover with the wheel of the outer annular portion 23 is preferably spaced from the terminal iiange 19 of the tire rim. This alfords a chamber therebehind with the intermediate flange for accommodating wheel balancing weights. In addition, the'spaced relation of the outer marginal portion facilitates the insertion of a pry-off tool therebehind tofulcrum'on the terminal edge of the terminal flange 19 for prying `the cover from the wheel by thus locking the retaining flanges 28 from the intermediate ange 18 of the tire rim. It will be appre# 4 ciated that the successive reinforcing ribs or shoulders afforded by the outer extremity underturned flange 33, then by the intermediate rib 34 and then by the inner rib 35, application of axially outward force to the outer marginal portion of the cover can be effected efl'iciently and without damaging the cover. ring-like outer marginal or rim portion 23 of the cover also serves as retaining means which prevents the spokelike portions of the intermediate cover portion from bending out of line, but maintains all of the spoke-like portions in proper operative position and providing solid backing for the several retaining ilanges 28, not only when applying the cover to the wheel, but during retention of the cover on a wheel and also' in prying the cover from the wheel.

The present application is a continuation-in-part of my applications Serial No. 259,546, liled December 3, 1951, and Serial No. 259,793, filed December 4, 1951, both now abandoned.

It will be understood that modifications and variations may be effected without departing from the scope of the novel concepts of the present invention.

I claim as my invention:

` l. In a wheel structure having a multi-flange tire rim and wheel body with air circulation, openings between the wheel body and the tire rim, a cover for the outer side of the wheel including a body member having a con* tinuous marginal liange structure and an intermediate portion, said intermediate portion having a series of air circulation openings therethrough with retaining nger anges at said openings, said finger flanges having generally radially outwardly directed edges retainingly engaging with a flange of the tire rim under tension in the finger anges resulting from flexure thereof incident to the placing of the same in the retaining engagement with the tire rim an e.

2.g In a wheel structure including a tire rim and a wheel body having ventilation openings therethrough and wherein the tire rim includes a generally axially and radially outwardly tapering intermediate ange joining a terminal ange, a cover for the outer side of the wheel comprising a cover body including an annular portion having a series of air circulation openings therethrough and provided with cover retaining anges at said openings including radially outwardly extending edges retainingly engageable with said intermediate ange, the cover having an outer marginal reinforced annular portion reinforcing the outer portions of the annular cover portion intervening between said openings to maintain all of said intervening portions in proper alignment and also serving as a pry-off shoulder structure.

3. In a wheel structure including a tire rim and a wheel body having ventilation openings therethrough and the tire rim having a generally axially outwardly and slightly radially outwardly tapering flange and a terminal flange at the outer side of said tapering flange, a cover for the outer side of the wheel comprising a circular cover member including a portion having a series of openings therethrough for cooperation with the wheel openings for air circulation, said openings being defined by cover retaining flanges having radially extending edges engageable retainingly with the tapering ange of the tire rim, and a marginal annular portion on the cover spaced from the tire rim and having a plurality of annular pry-oli" shoulders disposed radially outwardly from said retaining anges.

4. In Ia wheel structure including a tire rim and a wheel body having ventilation openings therethrough and wherein the tire rim includes a generally axially and radially outwardly tapering intermediate ange joining a terminal flange, a cover for the outer side of the wheel comprising a cover body including an annular portion having a series of air circulation openings therethrough and provided with cover retaining anges at said openings including radially outwardly extending edges retainingly The strongly reinforced continuous engageable with said intermediate flange, the cover having an outer marginal reinforced annular portion reinforcing the outer portions of the annular cover portion intervening between said openings to maintain all of said intervening portions in proper alignment and also serving as a pryoi shoulder structure, and an annular continuous indented rib on the cover at the radially inner side of said openings through the cover and engageable with the wheel body.

5. In lay cover for disposition at the outer side of a vehicle wheel, a circular sheet metal cover body having an inner circular portion and a circular radially outer portion divergently connected together at an axially inward juncture, said radially outer cover portion extending generallyl radially and axially outwardly and having an annular series of openings therein, said openings aring radially outwardly, and the respective openings having spaced pairs of generally inwardly directed wing-like retaining finger anges providing radially outwardly directed wheel engaging edges, said openings being closed at their radially outer sides by a continuous annular marginal part of said radially outer portion of the cover.

6. In a cover for disposition at the outer side of a vehicle wheel, a circular sheet metal cover body having an annular series of openings therein, said openings ilaring radially outwardly, and the respective opposite sides of said openings having generally inwardly directed winglike retaining finger flanges providing radially outwardly directed wheel engaging edges, said openings being closed at their radially outer sides by a continuous annular portion of the cover, said annular opening-closing portion having a plurality of annular reinforcing ribs adapted to be engageable by a pry-olf tool.

7. In a wheel structure including a wheel having a body and a multi-flanged rim including an intermediate generally axially inclined flange, a circular wheel cover including an outer annular portion having rearwardly projecting therefrom a plurality of divergent elements spaced in circular manner around the wheel axis, each with a radially outer edge portion for engaging said intermediate rim flange and for resisting turning of the cover on the wheel, said divergent elements converging in a direction axially outward of the cover and being cammingly movable apart in a circumferential direction upon engagement with said rim flange.

8. In a wheel structure including a wheel having a body and a multi-flanged rim including an intermediate generally axially inclined flange, a circular wheel cover including an outer annular portion having rearwardly projecting therefrom a plurality of divergent elements spaced in circular manner around the wheel axis, each with a radially outer edge portion for engaging said intermediate rim flange and for resisting turning of the cover on the wheel, said divergent elements converging in a direction axially outward of the cover and being cammingly movable apart in a circumferential direction upon engagement with said rim flange, said elements being arranged in spaced pairs with the elements of each pair being inclined away from each other in the general direction of said intermediate rim flange.

9. In a wheel structure including a wheel having a body and a multi-flanged rim including an intermediate generally axial inclined flange, a circular wheel cover for disposition on the wheel with an outer peripheral portion disposed over said rim and having an intermediate shouldered portion provided on its rear side with a plurality of circumferentially spaced elements pressed therefrom and projecting radially outward toward said intermediate rim flange, said elements having terminal edges inclined relative to an axial plane through the cover for gripping said intermediate rim flange to aid in centering the cover member and for resisting turning of said member on the wheel.

10. In a wheel structure including a wheel having a body and a multi-flanged rim including an intermediate generally axial inclined flange, a circular wheel cover for `disposition on the wheel with an outer peripheral portion kdisposed over said rim and having an intermediate shouldered portion provided on its rear side with a plurality of circumferentially spaced elements pressed therefrom and projecting radially outward toward said intermediate rim flange, said elements having terminal edges inclined relative to an axial plane through the cover for gripping said intermediate rim flange to aid in centering the cover member and for resisting turning of said member on the wheel, said cover portion having air circulation openings at areas from which said elements are pressed.

11. In a wheel structure including a wheel having a body and a multi-flanged rim including an intermediate generally axial inclined flange, a circular wheel cover for disposition on the wheel with an outer peripheral portion disposed over said rim and having an intermediate shouldered portion. provided on its rear side with a plurality of circumferentially spaced elements pressed therefrom and projecting radially outward toward said intermediate rim flange, said elements having terminal edges inclined relative to an axial platte through the cover for gripping said intermediate rim: flange to aid in centering theA cover member and for resisting turning of said member on the wheel, said cover portion having air circulation openings at areas from which said elements are pressed, each of said elements being in close proximity to a corresponding opening as to serve as a vane for promoting circulation of air through the opening in the rotation of the wheel.

12. ln a wheel structure including a member having an annular shoulder comprising a flange, a cover member for disposition at the outer side of the wheel and having projected from the inner side thereof divergent resiliently flexible generally radial wings disposed in planes oblique to the axis of the cover and terminating in edges for detachable gripping engagement with the wheel shoulder flange, said wings being movable apart upon initial engagement with said flange and movable toward each other thereafter to engage the flange and resiliently resist displacement of the cover from engagement therewith.

13. In a wheel including a tire rim having a generally axially outwardly extending flange, a wheel cover for disposition at the outer side of the wheel including an annular series of retaining fns having their major planes directed generally axially and including radially outer edges for retainingly engaging said flange to retain the cover on the wheel, said )ins being struck out from the cover and thereby affording a series of strike-out openings for air circulation through the cover.

14. In a wheel structure including a tire rim having an intermediate flange, a circular wheel cover for substantially concealing the tire rim and extending substantially radially inwardly therebeyond, an intermediate annular portion of the cover having an annular series of flange fins projecting in their respective major planes generally axially inwardly and radially and having radially outer edges retainingly engaging said intermediate tire rim flange.

15. In a wheel cover for disposition at the outer side of a vehicle wheel, said cover having an intermediate annular generally frusta-conical portion, and retaining elements projecting generally axially inwardly from said frusta-conical portion and having radially projecting edges extending along lines transverse to the periphery of the cover for retaining engagement with a portion of a vehicle wheel to which the cover may be applied.

16. In a wheel structure including a tire rim and a wheel body and wherein the wheel body provides air circulation openings, a cover for the-outer side of the wheel retained thereon and including a plurality of air circulation openings therethrough, each of said openings being defined by a generally U-shaped flange structure providing generally radially extending air circulation promoting fins having edges engaging the tire rim under tension in pressen, pry-off relation.

coverin'gmem'b'er :for the Outer sidezjf'theylzell inlud- -ing a 'portion gfor overlying the tire rim, lsaid 'partion lhaving 'yin `flange `means therebehind for lretaining en- *radially outward thrust retainngly against 'said 'f'.'m -flange.

1-8. 'In a wheel structure inlnding :a generally axially extending and radially 'facing annular-flange, a wheel 4covering member *for 'disposition at fthe outer iside 1of `the Wheel, said'member "having lans'erfiav a'f Circ'mnferen- -tially Yspaced #n Awines Aof Sabstantialfface 'areawihythe 'faces 'disposed t0 face generally .Circnmyenentiallyafjthe @over and 'providing-generally radially facing 'and axially extending redges eingagea'b'le anderresilient coverretaining gripping relation againstsaid annular wheel flange,

land with thef'porti-onsoy vthe'jn vanes adjacentsad edges being alternately @oppositely rangled -to 'the :axis of the l@over vmember and Ythe lwheel land 4lo `a line tangent `to vv`'the 'circumference vdefined rby Asaid wheel flange.

*References Cited in the" Ele of this 4paient =or the original patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Re.'22,042 Lyons Mar. 3, 1942 550,723 Morgan Dec. '3, 1895 v113,509,937 "Down Sept. 30, 1924 1,8%;173 Anderson Apr. 7, 1931 1,889,107() VVHyatt Nov. 29, 1932 22,092,975 Hunt'et-al. Sept. 14, 1937 `21115,`1282 *Sinclair Apr. 26, 1938 2,148,213 'Lyon Feb. I21, 1939 '2,166,695 Van Halteren July 1'8, 1939 '2,276,405 Lyon lMar. l17, 1942 12,368,228 vlLyon Jan. 30, 1945 236822238 Lyon Ian. "30, 1945 86,236 l'Lyon VOct.-9, .1945 2,595,873 Mulhern Mayf, 1952 2,761,530 'Dawley Sept. 4, 1956 2,785,777 l'Horn Mar. 19, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS France Feb. 15, 1937 

